CQC warns European Care Lifestyles (B) Ltd, that it is failing to protect the safety and welfare of people

1 March 2012

The Care Quality Commission has issued a formal warning to European Care Lifestyles (B) Ltd, registered provider of Oakhurst Nursing Home, stating that they must make urgent improvements to standards of care or face further action.

The warning follows a review by CQC inspectors on 31 January 2012 to check compliance with improvements requested following a previous inspection at Oakhurst Nursing Home on 5 December 2011.

During the visit in January we found that the provider was still failing to protect service users, and others who may be at risk, against the risks of inappropriate or unsafe care and treatment, by means of the effective operation of systems.

Inspectors found that no satisfaction surveys had been used to gain the views of the people living at the home. In addition, there were no systems in place to monitor health and safety issues in the home, such as infection control or environmental safety.

When inspectors asked if there were systems in place to audit people’s individual care plans they were told there weren’t any. CQC also asked for records of hot water tests as one resident’s room had excessively hot running water. No tests had been carried out.

Jo Dent, Regional Director for the CQC in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, said:

"The law says that these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.

“This warning sends a clear and public message that the provider needs to address these issues as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.

“Our inspectors will return to Oakhurst Nursing Home in the near future and if we find that the provider is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there."

Ends

For further information please contact the regional communications team, David Fryer 07901 514220 or Kirstin Hannaford 0191 233 3629 or CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

CQC will publish further details of theinspectors' findings in a review of compliance on its website at a later date.

The warning notice finds that European Care Lifestyles (B) Ltd is in breach of Regulation 10, Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 (outcome16) Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

CQC has a range of enforcement powers which include restricting the services that a provider can offer, or, in the most serious cases, suspending or cancelling a service. CQC can also issue financial penalty notices and cautions or prosecute the provider for failing to meet essential standards. Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.